The Fantasy of the Middle Ages: An Epic Journey through Imaginary Medieval Worlds

by Bryan C. Keene and Larisa Grollemond

From the soaring castles of Sleeping Beauty to the bloody battles of Game of Thrones, from Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings to mythical beasts in Dungeons & Dragons and from Medieval Times to the Renaissance Faire to Disneyland, the Middle Ages have inspired artists, playwrights, filmmakers, gamers, and writers for centuries. Indeed, no other historical era has captured the imaginations of so many creators.

This volume aims to uncover the many reasons why the Middle Ages have proven so flexible-and applicable-to a variety of modern moments from the eighteenth through the twenty-first century. These "medieval" worlds are often the perfect ground for exploring contemporary cultural concerns and anxieties, saying much more about the time and place in which they were created than they do about the actual conditions of the medieval period. With 140 color illustrations, from sources ranging from thirteenth-century illuminated manuscripts to contemporary films and video games, and a preface by Game of Thrones costume designer Michele Clapton, The Fantasy of the Middle Ages will surprise and delight both enthusiasts and scholars. This title is published to accompany an exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from June 21-September 11, 2022.

• ISBN10: 1606067583
• ISBN13: 9781606067581
• Publish Date: 19 July 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Getty Trust Publications
• Imprint: J. Paul Getty Museum
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 144
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Fantasy of the Middle Ages is a beautifully illustrated and well written monograph and exhibition catalogue on the art of the middle ages as it relates to media and modern aesthetic sensibility. Due out 19th July 2022 from Getty Publications, it's 144 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. The relevant exhibition, titled Fantasy of the Middle Ages, is scheduled to run at the J. Paul Getty Museum from 21st June through 11th Sept. 2022.

This is a layman accessible, lushly illustrated volume written and curated by Drs. Larisa Grollemond and Bryan C. Keene. The text is interesting and the connections between the middle ages and the modern day are built up logically and perceptively. The book isn't academically rigorous and doesn't contain annotations. The authors have included extensive illustration credits and a short bibliography for further reading.

This would be a good resource and candidate for public or school library acquisition, as well as full of illustrations which will be of use to calligraphers, artists, and students of history.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes